THE Heras Institute is organising its 26th Historians' Workshop 2003 on "Researching the history of medicine" to be conducted by Dr. Mridula Ramanna, reader and head of the Department of History, SIES College, Mumbai on January 19 from 9.30. Participation in all the sessions is required if you want a certificate at the end of the proceedings. For details, write to Aubrey A. Mascarenhas, Director - Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, St. Xavier's College, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai 400 001. E-mail: aubreyam@hotpop.com

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THE British Council Library is inaugurating its Writers Block Festival and re-launching its collection of Contemporary Literature with dhoom dham.

The inaugural features readings from a collection of Coorgi songs and ballads, a flute-guitar recital by Rajeev Raja and Prabhakar Mundkur.

Poetry in performance by Neville Shah and Co., and a panel discussion on the synergy between poetry and music led by lyricist Prasoon Joshi are also on.

New additions to the collection will be on display from January 11-17 at the British Council Library.

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MORE talk, but not the formal kind. Two writers from Mumbai  the eminent poet Dom Moraes and his architect partner Sarayu Srivatsa will talk and answer questions after reading from their new book Out of God's Oven on January 16, 6.30 pm, British Council.

Dom and Sarayu travelled all over India to write this book which takes "an uncompromising look at the drama of contemporary India based on the authors' personal memories and first-hand accounts of terrible landmarks in Indian history."